Gregg F. Martin
GeneralAuthor
AdvocateUnited States
Gregg F. Martin is a retired U.S. Army major general who served for 36 years, including combat command in Iraq, and later led the U.S. Army War College and National Defense University. Since leaving the military, he has become a mental health advocate and wrote Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness about his experience with bipolar disorder.
Career and work
Martin served on active duty in the U.S. Army for 36 years, rising to the rank of major general. A West Point graduate and Army engineer officer, he held a series of command and leadership positions in the United States and overseas. [7]
During the Iraq War, he commanded the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat, leading thousands of engineers during the 2003 advance from Kuwait to Baghdad and subsequent operations. He later served as Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School, commanded Fort Leonard Wood, and became Deputy Commanding General of Third Army/U.S. Army Central. [8]
From 2010 to 2012, Martin served as Commandant of the U.S. Army War College, and he subsequently became the 14th President of the National Defense University. He also holds a PhD and two master’s degrees from MIT. [5][7]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 2021Mental Illness: Stop the Stigma, Save Lives Martin’s first-person account of developing bipolar symptoms during the Iraq War, his increasing mania, removal from command, subsequent depression and psychosis, and his views on stigma and treatment.
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, 2022Bipolar General: What Can We Learn? Supports the timeline from symptom onset in 2003 through full-blown mania, removal from command, diagnosis in 2014 and the beginning of recovery.
International Bipolar FoundationDealing with Major Depression and Psychosis A first-person account of Martin’s bipolar I diagnosis, severe depression, delusions and psychiatric hospitalization at the VA hospital in 2016.
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Maximum Fun, 2024Depresh Mode Ep. 145: The Bipolar General A long-form interview covering Martin’s hospitalization, medication trials, lithium treatment and subsequent recovery.
InterviewCREST.BDGregg F. Martin Provides career details including his 36 years of Army service, combat command in Iraq, senior military positions, education at West Point and MIT, and later mental-health advocacy.
CREST.BD, 2026You Can Win Your Bipolar Battle Martin’s first-person account of his bipolar I diagnosis and his approach to maintaining long-term stability through continued management of the condition.
National Defense UniversityNational Defense University Gregg F. MartinGregg F. Martin Gregg F. Martin, 2023Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental IllnessBook
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Gregg F. Martin and their experiences.
- Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental IllnessBook · Gregg F. Martin, 2023
Martin’s memoir about his military career, the emergence and escalation of bipolar disorder, severe depression and psychosis, treatment, recovery, and his later advocacy work.
- The self-proclaimed ‘Bipolar General’ is waging war on the stigma of mental illnessInterview · NPR, 2024
An interview with Martin about his military career, diagnosis, recovery and efforts to reduce stigma around mental illness.
- General Gregg MartinPodcast · In the Media
Martin’s website collects interviews, podcasts, talks and articles about his experience with bipolar disorder and his advocacy work.